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European Union votes to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty

01.02.2018

EBU is delighted by the European Union's vote in favour of the procedure enabling ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty. 597 members of the European Parliament out of 627 voted in favour on January 18, while only 8 members voted against and 25 abstained.

This procedure allows the Council to fulfil the ratification and later deposit the Treaty in Geneva at WIPO, an important step that completes the already approved implementation of the exception within the legislative acquis of the Union, Thanks to this legislation, the adaptation and cross-border exchange of copyrighted books will be assured for non-profit uses to serve blind and visually-impaired people.

"I am extremely happy that the European Parliament has finally voted in favour of the decision that allows EU to ratify Marrakesh Treaty," said Ms. Bárbara Martín Munoz, a key member of the WBU and EBU Marrakesh Implementation and Ratification Campaign Committee.

"Now we will have to wait for the deposit of the instrument at WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) to see EU in the list of ratifications, and from that moment three more months to apply it! I do hope that happens by the end of 2018," said Ms. Martín Munoz.